Oathkeepers~ "Subject: Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs"

Some thing many should read and consider. No immeadiate replies are asked or wanted, as such would be an obvious reflection that one did not read and ponder on what is offered below.

Quoted section in full to retain impact of message;

It was written to Jill Edwards, a student at the University of Washington who did not want to honor Medal of Honor winner USMC Colonel Greg Boyington. Ms. Edwards and other students (and faculty) do not think those who serve in the military should be honored.

To: Edwards, Jill (student, UW)

Subject: Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs

Miss Edwards,

I read of your "student activity" regarding the proposed memorial to Col. Greg Boyington, USMC and a Medal of Honor winner. I suspect you will receive a belly full of angry e-mails from conservative folks like me. You may be too young to appreciate fully the sacrifices of generations of servicemen and servicewomen on whose shoulders you and your fellow students stand. I forgive you for the untutored ways of youth and your naiveté. It may be that you are, simply, a sheep.

There's no dishonor in being a sheep - - as long as you know and accept what you are. William J. Bennett, in a lecture to the United States Naval Academy on November 24, 1997 said: "Most of the people in our society are sheep. They are kind, gentle, productive creatures who can only hurt one another by accident."

We may well be in the most violent times in history, but violence is still remarkably rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other, except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are sheep.

Then there are the wolves and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy. Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it is not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial. Then there are sheepdogs and I'm a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf. If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy productive citizen, a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath, a wolf.

But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? What do you have then? A sheepdog, a warrior, someone who is walking the unchartered path. Someone who can walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed.

We know that the sheep live in denial that is what makes them sheep. They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exits throughout their kids' schools. But many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid's school. Our children are thousands of times more likely to be killed or seriously injured by school violence than fire, but the sheep's only response to the possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their child is just too hard, and so they choose the path of denial.

The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, cannot and will not ever harm the sheep. Any sheep dog that intentionally harms the lowliest little lamb will be punished and removed. The world cannot work any other way, at least not in a representative democracy or a republic such as ours. Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer that he didn't tell them where to go, or give them traffic tickets, or stand at the ready in our airports, in camouflage fatigues, holding an M-16. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white, and go, "Baa" until the wolf shows up. Then the entire flock tries desperately to hide behind one lonely sheepdog.

The students, the victims, at Columbine High School were big, tough high school students, and under ordinary circumstances they would not have had the time of day for a police officer. They were not bad kids; they just had nothing to say to a cop. When the school was under attack, however, and SWAT teams were clearing the rooms and hallways, the officers had to physically peel those clinging, sobbing kids off of them. This is how the little lambs feel about their sheepdog when the wolf is at the door. Look at what happened after September 11, 2001 when the wolf pounded hard on the door. Remember how America, more than ever before, felt differently about their law enforcement officers and military personnel? Understand that there is nothing morally superior about being a sheepdog; it is just what you choose to be.

Also understand that a sheepdog is a funny critter: He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, barking at things that go bump in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed, right along with the young ones. Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently.

The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, "Thank God I wasn't on one of those planes."

The sheepdogs, the warriors, said, "Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference."

You want to be able to make a difference.

There is nothing morally superior about the sheepdog, the warrior, but he does have one real advantage. Only one. And that is that he is able to survive and thrive in an environment that destroys 98 percent of the population.

There was research conducted a few years ago with individuals convicted of violent crimes. These cons were in prison for serious, predatory crimes of violence: assaults, murders and killing law enforcement officers. The vast majority said that they specifically targeted victims by body language: slumped walk, passive behavior and lack of awareness. They chose their victims like big cats do in Africa when they select one out of the herd that is least able to protect itself. Some people may be destined to be sheep and others might be genetically primed to be wolves or sheepdogs.

But I believe that most people can choose which one they want to be, and I'm proud to say that more and more Americans are choosing to become sheepdogs. Seven months after the attack on September 11, 2001, Todd Beamer was honored in his hometown of Cranbury, New Jersey. Todd, as you recall, was the man on Flight 93 over Pennsylvania who called on his cell phone to alert an operator from United Airlines about the hijacking. When they learned of the other three passenger planes that had been used as weapons, Todd and the other passengers confronted the terrorist hijackers. In one hour, a transformation occurred among the passengers - athletes, business people and parents -- from sheep to sheepdogs and together they fought the wolves, ultimately saving an unknown number of lives on the ground.

"There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men." - Edmund Burke. Here is the point I like to emphasize, especially to the thousands of police officers and soldiers I speak to each year. In nature the sheep, real sheep, are born as sheep. Sheepdogs are born that way, and so are wolves. They didn't have a choice. But you are not a critter. As a human being, you can be whatever you want to be. It is a conscious, moral decision. If you want to be a sheep, then you can be a sheep and that is okay, but you must understand the price you pay. When the wolf comes, you and your loved ones are going to die if there is not a sheepdog there to protect you. If you want to be a wolf, you can be one, but the sheepdogs are going to hunt you down and you will never have rest, safety, trust or love. But if you want to be a sheepdog and walk the warrior's path, then you must make a conscious and moral decision every day to dedicate, equip and prepare yourself to thrive in that toxic, corrosive moment when the wolf comes knocking at the door.

This business of being a sheep or a sheep dog is not a yes-no dichotomy. It is not an all-or-nothing, either-or choice. It is a matter of degrees, a continuum. On one end is an abject, head-in-the-sand-sheep and on the other end is the ultimate warrior. Few people exist completely on one end or the other. Most of us live somewhere in between.

Since 9-11 almost everyone in America took a step up that continuum, away from denial. The sheep took a few steps toward accepting and appreciating their warriors and the warriors started taking their job more seriously. It's ok to be a sheep, but do not kick the sheep dog. Indeed, the sheep dog may just run a little harder, strive to protect a little better and be fully prepared to pay an ultimate price in battle and spirit with the sheep moving from "baa" to "thanks". We do not call for gifts or freedoms beyond our lot. We just need a small pat on the head, a smile and a thank you to fill the emotional tank which is drained protecting the sheep. And when our number is called by "The Almighty", and day retreats into night, a small prayer before the heavens just may be in order to say thanks for letting you continue to be a sheep. And be grateful for the thousands - - millions - - of American sheepdogs that permit you the freedom to express even bad ideas.

Oathkeepers

A bump to keep this prominent.

Very inspirational speech, almost like something out of a film. All we need is Al pacino to reenact these words and we have ourselves a movie!

reply to post by ADVISOR

As long as the 'sheepdogs' remember that they act at the behest of, and under the control of, we 'sheep'.

History provides constant reminders of what happens when the military or the police decide they are actually running the show.

They act in our interests, at our pleasure. The moment that simple fact is forgotten...well, it's time for a trip out behind the barn.



[edit on 5-4-2010 by JohnnyCanuck]

reply to post by JohnnyCanuck


If they didn't, they would be wolves now wouldn't they.

Don't misconstrue what isn't. I posted this dang peice so those with comments like yours, would get the hint.

But, it's ok I expected a few sheep to make a peep.



But remember, if you read the article, no comment is really required. And those who may respond to the replies with out reading the article infull, well it's ignorance that makes the sheep.

Personally, I don't find that inspiring at all. In fact, I find it a very chilling worldview.

For one thing, not all wolves are bad.

For another, sheepdogs don't protect sheep because they love them: they protect them because they love the shepherd, the owner of the flock. The sheepdogs love the sheep only in that they give them a reason to indulge in violence.

The whole thing is very simplistic, and the world isn't conveniently divided into three parts.

I am a warrior.

I learned the hard way the difference between a soldier and a warrior: a soldier answers to his superiors; a warrior answers to his conscience.

A warrior is not free to indulge in violence and avoids it whenever possible. Neither does he or she shirk from it when it is necessary. Every person, whether they like it or not, must at some point find within themselves that which is the warrior. The only question is whether they will be a poor one or a good one.

Rather than promote the idea of sheeple being acceptable, that they necessarily are beholden to sheepdogs for protection, I prefer and follow the old ways of my people. Each person should be one helluva warrior at need, no matter sex or age, since no one can be protected 100% of the time. iI taught my granddaughter in this way: she had her own throwing knives at 5 and knew how to use them by 6. She is trained in bows, knives and staff weapons, knows how to read and lay a trail, how to find and use observation points, how to move unseen through the land. She can climb and run, and is mentally tough, quick, and intelligent.

This is self-justification mixed with condescendtion. While I admire and respect Pappy Boyington and feel he fully deserves a monument, I don't agree with the wolf/sheep/sheepdog analysis.

Originally posted by ADVISOR
reply to post by JohnnyCanuck

 

If they didn't, they would be wolves now wouldn't they.

Don't misconstrue what isn't. I posted this dang peice so those with comments like yours, would get the hint.
But, it's ok I expected a few sheep to make a peep.

I hear ya. I respect the police and I respect our military...they walk the walk. I just don't like when the talk gets overly aggressive...Alexander Haig "I am in charge" style. The US is too big to become a banana republic.

reply to post by apacheman


It would be a different world if every one followed the old ways.

As much as I agree with what you said, or wish it was more so that way.
Reality today is far from going back to those days when men were men and people had self reliance.

Nice find, great sentiments, particularly delightful analogies eloquently stated. Thanks OP. I respect and admire Apacheman's views as well and the constraints in high density urban society structures in modern society. It would be great if city kids would get their noses out of the omnipresent imac/ipod/iphone/xbox/playstation/dvd/laptop and interact with physicality learn something about relationships with the world outside the "box".

gj

reply to post by JohnnyCanuck


I agree with your sentiments on the subject, I can also see Mr Haig's side of the arguement as well, as compared to arm chair wanna be generals and chicken hawks who skirted their service.

Who would you rather assume control in dire situations, The guy who has fought two wars and knows what hes talking about from first hand experience.

Or the loser who ran away from his national service by hidding behind daddies money, only to turn around years later and make command decsions to send a younger generation to fight. While they themselves didn't.

That is how I see these things.

Chickenhawk, or man enough to step up when others don't.

It's not a matter of people being wolves in sheep dogs clothing, they are still wolves because they prey on others.

Sheep dogs risk their lives to protect others.

Whiles wolves will do what ever it takes to violate the ones who can;t defend themselves.

It is that simple, please try not to make it more than it isn't.

If some one is not doing the right thing, they are wrong, no matter how you freaking look at it, its wrong damn it.

Trying to make the ones who honestly and seriously dedicate their lives to protecting those who can't look bad, is no better than kicking the sheepdog and then later expecting them to protect you, after you turned on them.

Simply put;

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

Originally posted by ADVISOR
reply to post by JohnnyCanuck

 

I agree with your sentiments on the subject, I can also see Mr Haig's side of the arguement as well, as compared to arm chair wanna be generals and chicken hawks who skirted their service.

Who would you rather assume control in dire situations, The guy who has fought two wars and knows what hes talking about from first hand experience.

Or the loser who ran away from his national service by hidding behind daddies money, only to turn around years later and make command decsions to send a younger generation to fight. While they themselves didn't.

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

Yes, but we share a system of checks and balances that are set in place to ensure that Might is not equivalent to Right. Without that, we descend into a "Big Man" form of tribalism. Howze that working out in...I donno, say Africa?

We live under the system whereby the leash is held by...as you Yanks say..."We, the People..."

As it should be.

reply to post by JohnnyCanuck


The only "sheepdogs" out there are ex-servicemen like me. Soldiers are under obligation to follow orders above all else and most people don't realize how well the Indoc sessions work. All they have to do is change a law or two and deem revolutionaries as terrorists and your soldiers will have no problem firing on you. Next time you meet a homeless vet , give him a sandwich or something as that guy may save your life one day. People don't realise how powerful social stigmas are. This generation of infantrymen has been brought up on porn and video games, so I imagine it wouldn't be that far off to imagine them being misled. I'm all for currently serving members remembering their oaths right now but what's important is that they remember the oath when everything starts going wrong and everyone is blaming them (a scenario most infantrymen face on a daily basis in-theater, but on the domestic front can be very risky). One only needs to look as far as the civvie death-rates in the 'Stan and Iraq to see what I see.

reply to post by ADVISOR


You do realize that MS13 gang members in LA now use the Marine Corps as a school, right? Do you really think those crazy buggers are joining up to protect your interests? They only join up to learn how to kill more efficiently. The numbers of gang-related violence within the Corps have tripled in the last 10 yrs, as well so you can't say this is an isolated occurence. I think there is going to be "bingo" point when a line gets drawn in the sand, and from that point, things will get very difficult/complicated. Keep in mind, this is just my opinion. If you want to know more, google the issue and learn for yourself, don't bug me for sources, I'm bloody tired right now.

Information is NEED TO KNOW, today people don't know because they are not being told.

a reply to: xXxinfidelxXx

Yes, and that's old news, has been happening for decades.
Not every human has light in the hearts. Here's a tip, life isn't fair and never will be. It's best we stop teaching falsehood.

Everything has flaws, if you're going to go around looking for all of them you'll be wasting half your life, which could have been spent looking for the opposite.

I get your point, but on other hand what's your point?
# happens and it could be prevented but isn't.
That's the systems fault, not the DoDs.

Any suggestions or just complaining?

originally posted by: ADVISOR
reply to post by JohnnyCanuck

 

But remember, if you read the article, no comment is really required. And those who may respond to the replies with out reading the article infull, well it's ignorance that makes the sheep.

You know one tell tale sign that separates a wolf from a sheepdog?

Demanding that the sheep keep their opinions to themselves if they differ from that of the Canis Lupus.

Human Sheepdogs welcome the opinions of the flock they are protecting; because it is the freedom to have those opinions that the Sheepdog is protecting.

Sheepdogs don't start conversations by first telling everyone to keep their opinions to themselves.

The person who wrote the linked opinion peace seems to understand this fact; not once did he demand Miss Edwards change her opinion or even keep it quite. He was just telling her his opinin in the hopes that she would gain a better perspective.

As for the opinion peace itself; I think the biggest problem is that the writer can't decide if a sheep is a good or bad thing to be. He waffles back and forth insulting and than endearing the place of the sheep. His opinion would have more weight if he cut out the insulating bits; the sheep would be more willing to listen under those circumstances.